Orsanmichele (Or San Michele - Oratory of St. Michael, "St. Michael in the Garden") is a church-museum in Florence, which is an outstanding monument of Italian proto-Renaissance art with Gothic architecture and one of the most beautiful small buildings in the city.
Panoramas of the historic center of Florence can be seen from the top floor of the building.
The name "Orsanmikele" is historical and comes from the Church of St. Michael in the garden of the monastery (San Michele in Orto, San Michele in Orto), which stood at this place from the 8th to the 13th centuries.
Around 1240, the church was demolished, and in its place, probably in 1290, according to the project of Arnolfo di Cambio, a grain market was erected - the Loggia del Grano (grano - grain). The loggia was badly damaged in a fire on July 10, 1304 and was rebuilt between 1337 and 1350 in a typically Tuscan "Gothic-Renaissance style" by Simone Talenti, Neri di Fioravante and Benci di Chione Dami. So the former loggia became a three-story Gothic tower. In the future, the restructuring was carried out by Bernardo Buontalenti.
Subsequently, the first floor was a granary (warehouse) and a church, and the second, most likely, was occupied by Florentine guilds. In 1569, Duke Cosimo I de' Medici the Younger placed his reception room on the ground floor of the building.
Today there is a functioning church and a museum in the walls of Orsanmikele.
The building itself is a landmark and architectural value. It is decorated with architectural carvings, niches with statues of patron saints of craft guilds with works by the most prominent Florentine sculptors of that time (now copies), three-dimensional medallions (tondo) and large Gothic triple lancet windows, distinguished by a subtle pattern and columns.
The church in the building has two naves with two large square columns in the center, which, together with semi-columns leaning against the walls, support six round cross vaults. On the door in the northwest corner is a bushel, an ancient unit of measurement of grain and fodder. The arch of the vault shows the hole where the bags were lifted, and the pillars on the north side show the unloading holes where there were channels for the flow of grain from the upper warehouse.
The large marble tabernacle (tabernacle) depicting the Madonna delle Grazie, created in 1349-1359 by the Florentine painter, sculptor and architect Andrea Orcagna, attracts attention in the church.
The church is also decorated with exquisite stained glass windows, an abundance of frescoes from the late 14th century; it has an organ from 1975 and a monumental altar of St. Anna, where the marble group of St. Anna and Madonna and Child belongs to the work of Francesco da Sangallo (circa 1526).
Stairs lead to the upper floors.
Services are held regularly in the church.
TabenrakleSt. Anne 's Altar
The museum houses original sculptures, works by the most famous Florentine artists from the fifteenth to the sixteenth century, which once decorated niches outside the building.
From statues by Giambologna, Donatello, Filippo Brunelleschi and others.
The windows of the second floor of the museum offer panoramic views of the historic center of Florence.
A covered arched corridor connects Orsanmichele with the neighboring Palazzo dell'arte della Lana, which is one of the best preserved ancient towers in Florence and stands out with frescoes.
These two buildings together form one of the most architecturally picturesque views in Florence.
Practical information
Entrance to the museum is paid.
Orsanmichele is part of the Bargello Museum, which also includes: the Bargello National Museum, the Medici Chapel at the Church of San Lorenzo, the Davanzati Palace Museum and the Martelli House Museum
You can buy a ticket only to the Orsanmikele Museum or a comprehensive ticket to all the objects of the museum. The complex ticket is valid for 72 hours.
Tickets can be purchased at the museum's ticket office or online in advance on the website.
We recommend checking the information about the museum's opening hours, ticket prices and conditions of visits on the official website of the Bargello Museum: bargellomusei.beniculturali.it.
Orsanmichele address: Via dell'arte della Lana, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy.
Orsanmikele coordinates: 43°46'15.0"N 11°15'19.0"E (43.770833, 11.255278).
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